Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014

Floor Speech

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Mr. ENYART. Madam Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill, which will not kill the bill nor send it back to committee if adopted. If adopted, the bill will immediately proceed to final passage as amended.

Madam Speaker, we are 9 short days from the end of the fiscal year and 3 weeks from when we, as a Nation, can no longer pay our bills.

In 2011, congressional leaders changed the rules for the first time ever by debating whether the United States should voluntarily refuse to pay its bills. Congress ultimately raised the debt limit, but this partisan brinksmanship led to business uncertainty, a drop in consumer confidence, and the first ever downgrade of our Nation's AAA credit rating. Most importantly, it cost job growth.

I cannot believe that the full faith and credit of the United States would be threatened by this House. I cannot fathom how we can choose not to pay the bills we've already incurred.

As we stand here today, we're hurdling toward a government shutdown and once again facing default. I'm offering this amendment because the last thing we should be doing is threatening seniors with losing their Social Security and Medicare. Our troops, protecting us both domestically and overseas, shouldn't have to worry about whether they'll be paid. With this amendment, Social Security checks will be processed and mailed on time; Medicare and veterans benefits will not be cut nor delayed; our service men and women, serving around the world, will receive the pay they have earned. This amendment prohibits Social Security from being privatized and Medicare from being turned into a voucher program.

Madam Speaker, I represent 136,263 Social Security recipients and a thousand more veterans in southern Illinois. These are real people, not statistics. They're not only the retired; they are the disabled, widows, spouses, and children who look to us for leadership and depend upon us to do the right thing.

Madam Speaker, our Nation is at a crossroads. This body was sent here by our constituents to govern. Instead, a determined few have turned the House of Representatives away from solving problems and are creating problems. We need to turn to the most important work of our great Nation today: creating jobs for those who want to work but can't find employment.

I hope my colleagues across the aisle will signal to the American people that they are ready to get about the serious business of governing. Join me to protect our seniors, our veterans, and our brave servicemen and -women. We cannot do less.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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